Lasting footwear



Oct. 30, 1934. J. s. KAMBORIAN 1,979,000

LASTING FOOTWEAR Filed May 23. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 30, 1934. J 5KAMBORMN 1,979,000

LASTING FOOTWEAR Filed May 25. 195?. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 If I I 1% 3| 1151, 6' la -125i 2F Oct. 30, 1934. J. 5 KAMBORIAN 1,979,000

LASTING FOOTWEAR Filed May 25. 193?. 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 30, 1934. J.5 KAMBORlAN 1,979,000

LAST ING FOOTWEAR Filed May 23, 195?. 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 30,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 30 Claims.

This invention pertains to the lasting of footwear and relates moreparticularly to a method of and a machine for lasting those lateralportions of a shoe upper which intervene between the heel andtoe,-machines for performing this function being commonly known asside-lasting machines.

The side lasting involves the operation of stretching the shoe uppertaut and smooth over the shank and ball portion of the last, andsecuring the lower margin of the upper to the sole member which ismounted upon the last bottom. In thus stretching the upper, it isessential to avoid tensioning the material to such an extent as to drawthe top edge of the upper out of proper position on the last, and thusthe amount of stretch which may safely be applied is usually limited.Furthermore, while the upper is thus stretched, its lower edge must besecured in place by suitable attaching means which will hold it inlasted position. The most common mode of attaching the edge of the upperto the insole is by driving tacks through the upper material and throughthe insole into the last, such tacks being afterward removed, inaccordance with some processes of manufacture, or permanently left inposition, in accordance with other methods. Another way of attaching theedge of the upper is by the use of 3 staples which are so inserted thatwhile they do not pass completely through the sole member, they obtain afirm anchorage therein and are left permanently in place.

As more fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 484,553,filed September 26. 1930, I have previously devised a practical meth- Odof lasting the toe and heel portions of a shoe whereby the lasted-inupper material at these parts of the shoe is permanently secured to thesole member without the use of metallic fasteners;specifically by theuse of cement, thereby producing a shoe of superior quality. Theimproved character of shoes made in accordance with the method justreferred to has led to the demand for a lasting process such that thesides of the shoe may be lasted without recourse to metallic fastenersof any kind, and thus the principal object of the present invention isto provide a practical method of and apparatus for side lasting a shoe,without necessitating the driving of metallic fasteners of any sort intothe side portions of the shoe bottom.

In accordance with usual methods the shoe upper is first assembled withthe sole member 65' upon a last of usual and ordinary construction andpulled over in any desired manner, the quarter lining and counter beingpreferably pulled in and held by temporary tacks. Then, following mypresent invention, and while the shoe is held in convenient position,preferably bottom up, I stretch the sides of the upper over the last andonto the sole member, for example, by the use of hand lasting nippers,or by any other suitable means familiar to those skilled in the art.However, in accordance with the present invention I apply pressure(beginning substantially at the start of the stretching operation) tothe sides of the shoe upper, causing this pressure first to bear againstthe upper near the top of the last and gradually extending the pressuretoward the last bottom as the pulling and stretching operation iscarried on. Preferably I employ fluid pressure for this purpose appliedin such a way as to exert force substantially normally to the lastsurface at all points, and when the stretching operation issubstantially completed, this pressure has become nearly uniform at allparts of the side of the upper. In this way I make certain themaintenance of the top edge of the shoe upper at the proper point on thelast, regardless of the amount of stretch exerted, and produce themaximum stretch near the lower part of the upper where it is mostnecessary in order to conform the upper to the curved shank and ballportion of the last. 5

Having thus stretched the upper, I hold it in stretched condition (bymaintaining and preferably by further increase of the fluid pressure)and after rendering the inner surface of the lower margin of the upperand/or the opposed surface 91:)

of the insole sticky or adhesive, for example, by coating one or both ofsuch surfaces with rubber latex or other cement which dries quickly,particularly in the presence of heat, I cause a set of wiper fingers(preferably heated) to advance into engagement with the margin of theupper so as to wipe the latter in onto the sole member, such wipersbeing arranged to exert a very substantial and preferably progressivelyincreasing pressure upon the upper material as they advance. Thesewipers are so arranged, and the upper is so protected, that they onlycontact with the marginal material which is to be wiped in and thus,even if heated, will not injure the appearance or finish of the exposedparts of the completed shoe. The wipers are now kept in the advancedposition until the cement has set sufliciently to retain the shoe partsin lasted position and preferably, during this time, I move the lastforcibly toward the wipers, thereby to flatten and level the wiped-inmaterial. Preferably I last the second side of the shoe while holdingthe wipers in advanced position over the lasted-in material at the firstside.

Since the pressure-applying devices, as well as the wipers, must conformclosely and accurately to the shoe surface with which they cooperate, itis evident that they must be differently designed for use with a rightand a left shoe respectively, and accordingly I prefer to provide twosets of mechanism for use by a given operator or operators, and by meansof which to last right and left shoes, respectively.

While I prefer to employ heated wiper fingers, particularly when rubberlatex or cement having similar characteristics is employed, Icontemplate the use of unheated wipers (for example, when a preheatedcement which hardens quickly after cooling is employed), and while Isuggest the use of a-water filled flexible bag for applying the fluidpressure to the side of the upper, I contemplate the employment of otherand equivalent means, but preferably involving fluid pressure. I furthercontemplate an arrangement of apparatus for lasting right and leftshoes, all mounted upon the same base or support and, if desired.actuable in whole or in part by the same mechanical agencies. It isfurther to be understood that other specific arrangements and equivalentmechanisms than those herein specifically shown and described may beemployed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have disclosed one desirableembodiment of the invention by way of example,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away and with certain partsomitted, showing apparatus embodying my present invention and designedfor lasting a left shoe, the parts being shown in the position whichthey occupy at the beginning of the lasting operation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the pressure-applyingbags and wipers retracted from the shoe, the latter being mounted uponthe supporting back ready for the beginning of the operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the right-hand set of lastingwipers as advanced over the shoe bottom in the position which theyoccupy at the completion of the side lasting on the righthand side ofthe shoe as viewed in this figure, while in the opposite side thepressure-applying device is in contact with the side of the shoe and theupper is just being stretched by the operator;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, to larger scale,showing one of the movable carriages with its pressure bag and wipers;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, with certain parts omitted,substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a side view of the pressure-applying bag partly in verticalsection;

Fig. 8 is a plan view (omitting parts) illustrating the carriages whichsupport the pressureapplying means, together with the portion of themechanism for actuating the carriages;

Fig. 9 is a section substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 illustratingcertain details of the carriage-actuating mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 1010 of Fig. 1 showingthe guideways which support the wiper carrier;

Fig. 11 is an inside elevation of the wiper carriage and heater devicebut omitting certain parts;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of one of the wipersupporting carriers,certain of the parts being omitted; and D Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic planview illustrating mechanism for lasting right and left shoes mountedupon the same base.

Preferably the apparatus is so arranged as to hold the shoewith itsbottom side up while lasting it, as in a bed lasting machine, but whenhereinafter I refer to the bottom" of the last, I intend thereby toindicate that surface of the last which receives the insole, and when Irefer to the top of the shoe upper, I thereby mean that part which is atthe top of the shoe when the latter is in use. Also in referring to theinner side of the shoe I mean that side thereof which is at the innerside of the foot when worn, and in the description of the machineoperation I indicate motion of parts toward the last as inward andmovements of parts away from the operator as rearward.

As herein disclosed my improved apparatus comprises a frame having a topmember or table 1 supported upon front legs 2 and rear legs 3. At apoint near the lower ends of the legs the latter are connected by ashelf or platform 4 designed to support a portion of the operativemechanism.

The table 1 carries the machine head 5.which is secured to the table bymeans of bolts or in any other suitable manner and, if desired, a wedgemay be interposed between the head and table to tilt the head forwardly,although this is not essential. The head, which is preferably a casting,includes an upright hollow column 6 having, near its top, a forwardlyprojecting boss 7 which carries a pivot pin 8 on which a jack-supportingbracket 9 is pivotally mounted. This jack-supporting bracket is arrangedto swing in a vertical plane, but is normally held substantially in theposition shown in Fig. 2- by means of a coiled tension spring 10 whichis attached to the righthand end of the bracket 9, as indicated in Fig.2, and which extends downwardly through the column 6 to a fixed point ofanchorage near the lower end of the latter. The bracket 9 supports ahorizontally slidable carriage 11 which may be adjusted in the front torear direction by means of a hand wheel 12 and a screw-threaded shaft.The carriage 11 carries the jack 13 which is vertically adjustable inthe carriage and may be held in adjusted position by means of set screw14. This jack 13 is of a type commonly employed in shoemaking apparatusfor supporting a last and includes a spindle 13 which fits within thesocket provided for this purpose in lasts of ordinary con struction. Alast L is indicated in Fig. 2 as mounted on the jack, and as illustratedin Fig. 5, the last carries a shoe upper U and the insole S.

The head 5 also comprises a pair of upwardly extending bracket arms 15disposed at opposite sides of the jack-supporting bracket 9 and thesearms support a substantially horizontal base member 16 upon whichcarriages 1'7 and 18 are mounted.

Referring to Fig. 8, the carriages 1'7 and 18 are furnished withhorizontal arms 19 and 20, respectively, provided on their inner faceswith racks which mesh with a pinion 21 mounted on a vertical shaft 22journaled in an opening in the base member 16. Below this base memberthe shaft 22 carries a second pinion 23 which meshes with rack teeth 24on the side of a rack bar 25 mounted to slide in a guideway 26 securedto the under surface of the base 16. The rack bar 25 is also furnishedwith rack teeth 27 on its under side, meshing with a gear sector 28fixed to a shaft which turns in a bearing 29 carried by a bracket 30projecting from the rear part of the column 6. The shaft which carriesthe sector 28 is furnished at its opposite end with a lever arm 31 towhich a link 32 is suitably secured. This link extends downwardly to apoint below the shelf 4 and is pivotally secured at its lower end to atreadle lever 34 pivotally secured at its rear end upon a shaft 35 whichis supported by brackets carried by the rear legs 3.

At its forward end the pedal lever 34 extends outwardly through avertical slot 36 in a plate 37 attached to the forward edge of the shelf4 and depending from the latter substantially to the floor on which themachine rests. The forward end of the pedal lever is furnished with afoot treadle 38, and preferably one edge of the slot 36 is furnishedwith detent teeth 39 with which the upper edge of the lever 34 may beengaged by a slight lateral movement of the lever such as is permittedby lost motion in its pivotal bearings, whereby the pedal lever may belocked in selected depressed position.

Since these carriages l7 and 18 and the parts carried thereby aresubstantial duplicates of one another, except as in such slight detailsas hereinafter referred to, the further description is confined to thecarriage 17.

The carriage 17 comprises an inner substantially vertical wall 40 (Fig.11) having a slot 41 therein for the passage of a bolt 42 which is screwthreaded for engagement in a threaded opening in a plate 43 disposed atthe outer side of the member 40. The plate 43 is held in adjustedposition against the member 40 by means of bolts 44, while the bolt 42is held locked in adjusted position in the plate 43 by means of asuitable locking nut. The inner end of bolt 42 is furnished with a ball45 which enters a socket in a block 46, the latter being secured to abracket member 47 which is thus supported by the bolt 42 for universaltilting movement.

The bracket 47 carries an abutment plate 48 (Fig. 5) against which aninflatable pressureapplying bag 49 rests. This bag is preferably ofrubber or other suitable elastic and stretchable material and, in frontto rear section, is of substantially the contour illustrated in Fig. 7.Preferably this bag is furnished with one or more substantiallyhorizontal septums 50, 51, etc., dividing the bag into a plurality ofcompartments, each extending longitudinally of the bag. Each septum isfurnished with an orifice 52, 53, etc., while the wall of the lowercompartment is provided with a nipple 54 for attachment of afluidsupplying pipe 55. Preferably, the orifice in the lowermost septumis of larger diameter than that in the septum next above it, with afurther progressive decrease in the size of the orifices if a greaternumber of septums are employed, and as illustrated in Fig. 7, it ispreferred to stagger the orifices so that fluid passing from onecompartment to the next must traverse substantially the entire length ofone compartment before flowing through the next orifice.

The upper surface 56 of the bag is shaped sub stantially as illustratedin Fig. 7 so as to conform more or less closely to the contour of thatside of the shoe bottom which is in proximity thereto, it beingunderstood that the upper wall of the bag at opposite sides of the lastwill be differently contoured to correspond to the inner and outer sidesof the last. Preferably, that side of the bag which is opposed to thelast is protected by means of a piece 57 of leather, textile fabric, orother flexible material which is secured at its lower part, by means ofa clamping plate 58, to the abutment plate 48, while its upper part isclamped by means of a shield plate 59 to the abutment plate 48.Preferably, this shield plate 59 extends substantially across the upperedge of the bag so as to protect the bag from direct contact with theheated wipers hereafter described and to form a guide for such wipers.

A fluid supply pipe 55 is connected to the nipple 54 and extendsdownwardly to a Y-connection where it joins a similar pipe from theother bag, and then extends down to a T-connection 55*, one branch ofwhich is connected by a pipe 55 to a cylinder 60. This cylinder ismounted on the shelf 4 and is provided with a piston 61 having a pistonrod 62 surrounded by a coiled spring 63 normally tending to move thepiston rearwardly in the cylinder. At its rear end, the piston rod 62 isconnected to the upper end of one arm 64 of a bell crank levercomprising a sleeve 65 mounted to turn upon a shaft 66 supported inbrackets 67 projecting rearwardly from the rear legs 3. This bell cranklever comprises a second upstanding arm 67 to which a link 68 ispivotally connected. The opposite end of this link is pivotally securedto an arm 69 of a treadle lever mounted upon a stub shaft 70 carried bya bracket 71 secured to the under side of the shelf 4. This treadlelever has a forwardly extending arm 72 passing outwardly through a slot73 in the plate 37 and carrying a treadle 74 at its forward end. Oneedge of the slot 73 is preferably furnished with detent teeth 75 forretaining the treadle lever in depressed position.

The T-connection 55", above referred to, has a horizontal branch '76which is connected to a second T-connection 77 from which a pipe 78extends upwardly to a reservoir 79 mounted on a bracket carried by oneof the rear legs 3, such reservoir being in the form of a cylinderhaving a piston 80 therein. This piston may be depressed by means of ascrew-threaded shaft 81 having a hand wheel 82 so that by turning thehand wheel force may be applied to the contents of the reservoir 78 toforce the contents thereof into the cylinder 60. This reservoir isintended to provide a supply of pressure fluid which may be fed to thepressure system as desired in order to make up for leakage or otherlosses therein.

The carriage 17 is furnished withan upper, inclined guide surface 83,preferably divided by a slot 84 designed to accommodate certain of theparts of the mechanism, and has an upstanding rib 85 also divided bythis slot. This rib is undercut at its opposite edges to form a dovetailconnection with a sliding wiper carrier 86 which is adapted to slideinwardly and downwardly upon the surface 83 of the carriage 17. Thiscarrier 86'is furnished with an outstanding ear 87 disposed in the planeof the slot 84, and to this ear is pivotally secured one end of auniversal Joint connection 88 to the other end of which is secured anoperating lever 89. This lever is pivotally connected to a bracket 90mounted on the carriage l7, and is furnished at its forward end with ahandle 90 disposed in a convenient position to be grasped by theoperator. Preferably, a guide plate 90 is secured to the forward edge ofthe base member 16 and has a horizontal slot 90 through which the lever89 passes and which is adapted to support and guide such lever in itsmovements. Movement of this lever about its pivotal support on thebracket causes the carrier 86 to slide in and out along the inclinedguidesurface 83, the universal joint connection between the lever andthe carrier permitting this movement without cramping.

The carrier 86 comprises an outer portion 91 which is adjustably securedto the bodyof the carrier by bolt and slot connections or the like andthe upper surface of part 91 is of substantial contour, indicated atFig. 13. This part 91 has an upstanding rim 92 defining the outer edgeof a trough 93 which is adapted to receive the downturned toes of aseries of wiper fingers 95. Each wiper finger is provided with a boss 96having an opening extending downwardly therethrough for the reception ofa bolt 97 having a head 98 at its upper end and which is encircled by acoiled compression spring 99 bearing at its upper end against the underside of the carrier and at its lower end against a nut 100 at the lowerend of the bolt.

The inner ends of the wiper fingers 95 (such inner ends constituting thewipers, proper) normally rest upon and slide across the upper surface101 of a supporting member 102 having downwardly directed legs 103 whichare adjustably secured to upstanding lateral flanges 40 projectingoutwardly from the member 40 of the carriage 17, the legs 103 beingvertically adjustable in slots in the member 40 by means of retainingbolts 103. When properly adjusted the surface 101 is slightly below thesurface of the shield plate 59 and also below the level of the exposedsurface of the insole on the last.

The support 102 preferably is furnished with a chamber for the receptionof a heating element 105 so as'to heat the wipers during the time thatthey rest on the support. As here shown, this heating element consistsof an electrical resistance coil receiving energy through a cable 106leading to a control box 107 secured to the righthand edge of thetable 1. This control box'may contain any desired switch and rheostatmechanism for controlling the amount of current delivered to the heatingcoil and receives current through a cable 108 from any suitable source.

In order to keep the inner end portions of the wiper fingers 95 inproper position in a front to rear direction the support 102 isfurnished with set screws 102 which in efiect define the front and rearedges of a channel in which the inner ends of the fingers 95 are guided,the surface 101 which constitutes the floor of the shallow channel beingcurved in a longitudinal direction in accordance with the contour of thelower part of the adjacent side of the last.

The inner ends 95" of the fingers 95 are preferably curved upwardly asshown in Fig. 5 and are adapted to ride over the guard plate 59 and tofold or wipe in the margin of the upper material. For holding the innerends of the wipers downwardly to bring pressure upon the foldedoverupper material, I provide each wiperwith a spring 109 secured at itsupper end to a bracket 110 projecting from the under side of the wiperand anchored at its lower end to a bracket 111 secured to the carrier86. As the ends of the wipers advance, they engage the guard plate 59and are raised from surface 101 and guided so as to pass easily overonto the insole as they begin to wipe in the upper. As they advance,their outer ends drop, thereby causing their advancing ends to rock andpass smoothly over the insole while keeping the point of application ofthe compressive force close to the edge of the shoe bottom, theadvancing ends of the wipers being now wholly supported by the wiped-inmaterial, while the springs 109 stretch and also approach the point ofapplication of the pressure to the work, the net result being to apply aprogressively increasing pressure to the wiped-in material.

A bracket 112 projects from the rear part of the member 16 and supportsa hydraulic cylinder 113 having a piston 114 therein provided with apiston rod which carries a saddle member 115. This saddle member ispreferably more or less V-shaped in transverse section and covered withsuitable cushioning material such, for example, as leather or rubber,adapted to contact with the cone portion of the last. A flexible pipe116 extends downwardly from the lower end of the cylinder 113 to aT-connection 117, one branch of which is secured to the T-connection 77and another branch of which is connected by a pipe to a cylinder 118mounted on a shelf 4. This cylinder 118 (Fig. 6) has a piston 119 with apiston rod 120 which is encircled by a coiled spring 121 tending to pushthe piston rearwardly. The rear end of the piston rod 120 is pivotallyconnected to the upper end of an arm 112 of a bell crank levercomprising a sleeve 123 mounted to turn on the shaft 66 and having asecond arm 124 connected by a link 125 to an arm 127 of a treadle leverpivoted on a stub shaft supported by a bracket 128 carried by the shelf4. This treadle lever has a forward arm 129 projecting out through aslot 130 in the plate 37 and is furnished at its forward end with atreadle 131. The edge of the slot 130 may be provided with detent teeth132 for holding the treadle lever in depressed position.

The apparatus hereinabove illustrated and described is designed forlasting 'a left shoe, the pressure-applying bags, and the guides for thewipers being properly shaped for lasting a left shoe. While it would bepossible to provide interchangeable guides for the wipers, together withappropriate pressure bags so that the same machine could be used forlasting both left and right shoes, I prefer to provide two separate setsof mechanism, preferably mounted on the same base,-each of the samegeneral construction as hereinabove described,-one of such mechanismsbeing properly fitted for lasting left shoes and the other for lastingright shoes, thus avoiding the necessity for adjustment or interchangeof parts in shifting from right to left shoes. Obviously one operatormay use one set of mechanism for lasting left shoes, and anotheroperator may use the other mechanism for lasting right shoes, butpreferably the same operator will use both mechanisms alternatively.

In Fig. 13 I have diagrammatically illustrated a suitable arrangement oftwo such mechanisms M and N for lasting right and left shoes,respectively, mounted upon the same base Q. If desired, automatic meansmay be provided for releasing the shoe from one mechanism when theoperator has completed his work on a shoe in the other set'of mechanism.

The operation of lasting, in accordance with the present method and bythe apparatus disclosed is substantially as follows, it being assumedthat at the beginning of the operation the machine parts occupy thepositions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, respectively, and that a shoe upper Uand an insole S have been assembled upon the last L and pulled over inany usual or desired manner, it being noted that if the pulling overoperation is properly done, the upper will be disposed in properposition on the last, with its top edge properly positioned at each sideof the last.

The operator takes the last with its assembled upper and insole andmounts it upon the spindle 13 of the jack 13, adjusting the jack so asto bring the ball portion of the shoe substantially in line with thecentral wipers, as indicated at B in Fig. 4, and adjusting the jack upor down, as experience may indicate to be desirable and in accordancewith the size of the shoe to be operated upon,--at the" same timeadjusting the saddle 115 to the desired point to support the forwardpart of the shoe at the proper level. If the quarter lining and forwardcorners of the counter have not already been lasted in, the operator maynow perform this operation, inserting a temporary tack at each corner ofthe counter to hold these parts in place.

The operator next depresses the treadle 38, thus causing the carriages17 and 18 to approach each other, thereby bringing the pressure-applyingbags 49 into contact with the opposite sides of the shoe upper. Havinglocked the treadle 38 in its depressed position by causing the lever toengage one of the detent teeth 39, the operator seizes the upwardlyprojecting margin of the shoe upper at one side of the last by means oflasting pinchers P or otherwise, and draws the upper taut and snug aboutthe side of the last in a manner well understood by skilled lasters.Before exerting substantial pull on the upper in this manner, theoperator depresses the treadle 74, thus forcing the piston 61 forwardlyin the cylinder 60 and thereby driving pressure fluid, for example,water or oil, upwardly through the pipe 55 into the bags 49.. Thepressure fluid first enters the lower compartment of the bag and expandsthe inner wall of said compartment so as to exert substantial clampingpressure against the shoe upper near the top of the last. This holds thetop edge of the upper at the position in which it was located by theoperator during the pulling over operation, that is to say, in thatposition wherein the top edge of the upper is disposed in propersymmetrical relation with reference to the last and such as results fromthe operation technically known as spindling. Since the upper is thusclamped at its extreme top before the operator begins to exert anysubstantial strain on the upper, such strain does not displace the upperfrom its original properly placed position.

As the operator continues to exert pull on the upper, the pressure ofthe fluid in the bag gradually extends over an area which progressivelyadvances downwardly toward the bottom of the last or, as viewed in Fig.5, for example, upwardly from compartment to compartment of the bag.Thus, during the pulling and stretching operation the stretching may becontinued at the lower margin of the upper where it is most necessaryand where the upper must be caused to conform to the sharp curvature atthe shank and ball of the shoe, while the top parts of the upper areclamped and held against excessive stretch.

When the upper has been pulled snugly about the last at one side of thelatter as described, the operator applies some suitable adhesive, eitherto the inner surface of the upstanding margin of the upper, or to themargin of the insole or to both, one such adhesive being rubber latex,although I contemplate the use of other adhesives as being suitable forthe purpose. After the opposed surfaces of the marginal material andinsole have been made sticky, the operator seizes the handle at thatside of the machine at which the shoe has now been drawn snugly over thelast, and advances the wiper carrier 86 inwardly, thus causing thewipers (which have become heated by contact with the support 102) tomove inwardly over the guard plate 59 and into contact with theupstanding margin of the upper. It is to be noted that at this timesubstantially the entire lateral area of the upper, from its top edgesubstantially to the point at which it engages the outer edge of theinsole, is firmly clamped in its taut condition so that it can notcontract during the wiping operation. The wipers eventually take up somesuch position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the springs 109 pull the wipers down flrmly towardthe surface 101, but that as the wipers move inwardly, no furthersupport is furnished by the surface 101, so that the free ends of thewipers exert a progressively increasing component of force in adirection substantially perpendicular to the bottom face of the insole.During the inward movement of the wiper carrier it descends, thus, asabove described, rocking the advancing ends of the wipers so that theyride easily and smoothly over the insole, the action of the springs 109becoming 106 more and more pronounced as the wipers advance.

Preferably the operator lasts the inner side of the shoe first, sincethis is the more difiicult operation, and while he is lasting theopposite 110 side of the shoe he leaves the wipers in advanced positionat the inner side to insure a thorough setting of the cement. Theoperator now proceeds to last the other side of the shoe in accordancewith substantially the same series of steps. 11

However, at this time the right-hand bag is already inflated, but I flndthat the progressive inflation of the bag, as already described,apparently produces a certain degree of stretch in the upper, or atleast conforms it to the last, so that I the operator is able tocomplete its stretching at the lower margin of the upper withoutreleasing the pressure, the outside of the shoe being relatively easy tolast. The wiper carrier at the right-hand side of the machine is nowmoved inwardly by the operator, wiping in the righthand side, as viewedin Fig. 2. When both sets of the wiper carriers have been moved inwardlyto their inner limit, the operator then depresses the treadle 131,delivering pressure fluid to the cylinder 113 which raises the saddle115 and presses the forward part of the last L upwardly with great forceagainst the wipers, such movement of the last being permitted by thepivotal support of the bracket 9. This high pressure exerted upon thewiped-in material, which is held downwardly by the heated wipers, veryquickly completes the setting of the adhesive and at the same time ironsthe marginal material down tompletion of the operation on the right shoemay be made automatically to release the left shoe, and vice versa.

When the shoe is now removed from the machine, it will be found to haveits lateral margins stuck down firmly and securely at all points alongthe sides of the shoe, and flattened and leveled in a manner which issuperior to that produced by any machine operation now known to me,while at the same time it is free from metallic fasteners along itssides.

While I have herein illustrated one desirable embodiment of the machineby way of example, I wish it to be understood that the invention is notlimited to this particular embodiment, but that variations in detail,structural arrangement of parts, and the substitution of equivalents maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. That method of side lasting shoes without using any substantialnumber of metallic fasteners at any stage of the process which comprisesas steps assembling an upper and insole upon a last, clamping the upperagainst the lateral surface of the last by the use of clamping devicesdevoid of upper penetrating elements, subsequently gripping the loweredge portion of the upper and stretching it taut against the lateralsurface of the last by a direct and positive lasting pull, causing theinner surface of the margin of the upper to become sticky, folding suchmargin over onto the insole, and holding such margin under pressureuntil it is permanently united to the insole.

2. That method of side lasting shoes without the use of metallicfasteners which comprises as steps stretching the upper taut against thelateral surface of the last by gripping the lower portion of the upperand exerting direct mechanical pull thereon, and, while holding theupper stretched by the use of devices which do not penetrate the upper,wiping in the margin of the upper/onto the insole, causing the opposedsurfaces of such margin and insole to become sticky at some stage of theoperation, and thereafter subjecting said margin to heat and pressureuntil it is permanently united to the insole.

3. That method of side lasting shoes which comprises as steps pulling anupper over a last having an insole mounted thereon, lasting in thequarter lining and counter, applying pressure to the side portion of theupper to clamp the upper firmly against the last surface, and, whilemaintaining such pressure, wiping in the lower margin of the lateralportion of the upper over onto the insole and holding it under heat andpressure until it has set in position.

4. That method of side lasting shoes which comprises as steps pulling anupper over a last having an insole mounted thereon, securing the forwardends of the counter in lasted position, clamping the top portion of theupper against the last, stretching the lower part of the upper taut overthe lower part of the last by a direct pull applied to the lower part ofthe upper, applying adhesive to the margin of the upper wiping in themargin of the upper over the insole, and maintaining said wiped-inmargin under heat and pressure until the adhesive material hassubstantially set in lasted position.

5. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps assembling anupper and an insole upon a last, applying pressure to that part of theupper adjacent to the top of the last whereby to clamp such part of theupper in predetermin d position against the last, gripping the lowerportion of the upper and stretching it taut by force positively appliedto its free lower edge so as to bring it into close contact with thelower portion of the lateral surface of the last, clamping the lowerpart of the stretched upper against the last, wiping in the margin ofthe upper onto the insole, causing the opposed surfaces of the insoleand wiped-in material to become sticky at some stage in the process, andholding the wiped-in marginal material under heat and pressure until itis permanently united to the insole.

6. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps assembling anupper and insole upon a last, applying pressure by means of a fluidmedium to the upper throughout an area extending longitudinally of theupper near the top of the last, gripping the lower edge of the upper andstretching it by a positive pull while causing said area progressivelyto advance toward the last bottom, and while maintaining such pressure,wiping in the margin of the upper over the last bottom.

'7. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps pulling theupper over a last having an insole mounted upon its bottom, applyinglateral pressure to the side portions of the upper at points-near thetop of the last while leaving the lower portion of the upper relativelyfree, stretching the upper by force applied to its lower edge so as todraw the upper taut about the shank portion of the last, and, while sostretching the upper, causing the point of application of the lateralpressure to advance progressively toward the bottom of. the last.

8. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps assembling anupper and insole upon a last, applying pressure to the upper in adirection substantially normal to the surface of the last at points nearthe top of the last, gripping the upper near its lower edge and exertinga positive pull thereon to stretch and draw its lower portion taut aboutthe last, applying a quick setting cement to the inner surface of thelower margin of the upper, laying said margin into contact withthe'surface of the insole, and applying pressure and heat to said marginto cause it permanently to adhere to the insole.

9. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps assembling anupper and insole upon a last, applying pressure to the upper in adirection substantially normal to the surface of the last at points nearthe top of the latter, gripping the upper near its lower edge andexerting a positive pull thereon to stretch and draw its lower portiontaut about the last, applying cement to the inner surface of the marginof the insole, moving an elongate wiper longitudinally into contact withsaid margin for folding the margin over onto the insole, causing theadvancing end of the wiper to press forcibly against the margin in adirection toward the surface of the insole, and while so advancing itdepressing its outer end and thereby rocking its work-engaging end toinsure a smooth advance, and thereafter holding such margin underpressure by the wiper until the cement has set.

10. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps assembling anupper and insole upon a last, applying pressure to the upper in adirection substantially normal to the lateral surface of the last,gripping the upper near its lower edge and exerting positive pullthereon to stretch and draw its lower portion taut about the last,engaging a heated wiper member with the lower margin of the upper andcausing said wiper memher to advance laterally over the surface of theinsole with increasing pressure toward the surface of the insole whilerocking the advancing end of the wiper whereby to. fold in the margin ofthe upper and lay it flat and smooth against the surface of the insole.

11. That method of lasting shoes which comprises as steps assembling anupper and insole upon a last, gripping the upper near its lower edge andexerting a positive pull thereon to stretch and draw its lower part tautabout the last, applying cement to the inner surface of the margin ofthe upper, wiping in such margin over the surface of the insole whileapplying constantly increasing pressure to such margin in such adirection as to force it into contact with the insole, and maintainingsuch pressure until the margin has set in lasted position.

12. That method of side lasting shoes which comprises as stepsassembling an upper and insole upon a last, gripping the upper near itslower edge and exerting a positive pull thereon to stretch and draw itsside portions taut about the sides of the last, applying adhesive to theinner surface of the upper along its margin, and wiping such margin, atthe sides of the shoe, inwardly over the surface of the insole by theapplication of force having components substantially perpendicular andtransverse to the insole, respectively, that component of force which isperpendicular to the insole being progressively increased as the wipingin operation proceeds, and maintaining the final pressure until theadhesive has set.

13. Apparatus for side lasting shoes comprising means for supporting alast having a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, means for holdingthe top portion of a side of the upper in predetermined position on thelast while stretching said side of the upper taut over the last, andmeans operative to apply heat and pressure to the margin of the upperwhile holding such margin in contact with the insole.

14. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, pressure applyingmeans comprising an expansible bag engageable with the shoe upper, saidbag having a plurality of compartments, and means operative to inflatesaid compartments successively whereby to apply pressure first to oneportion of the shoe upper and then to another.

15. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, pressure applyingmeans comprising a plurality of fluid compartments each having anexpansible wall engageable with a part of the shoeupper, saidcompartments being disposed at different levels relatively to the heightof the shoe last, and means operative to deliver pressure fluidsuccessively to said compartments beginning with the compartmentdisposed nearest to the top of the last and finishing with the onedisposed nearest the lower edge of the last.

16. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, pressure applyingmeans comprising an expansible bag engageable with the shoe upper, saidbag having a plurality of septums dividing it into separatecompartments, said compartments extending longitudinally of the last andbeing disposed at different levels as referred to the height of thelast, said septums having orifices of predetermined capacitytherethrough, and means for delivering pressure to that compartmentnearest the top of the last, the orifices permitting said fluid to passprogressively from one compartment to the next.

17. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, pressure applyingmeans comprising a fluid-tight expansible bag having one side thereofdisposed adjacent to the side of the shoe upper, a rigid abutment forthe other side of the bag, a septum dividing the interior of the baginto compartments, said septum having an orifice therethrough, and meansfor forcing pressure fluid into one compartment of the bag, the orificepermitting the fluid to pass at a predetermined rate into the othercompartment. I

18. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, pressure applyingmeans comprising a fluid-tight receptacle having at least one side whichis expansible when exposed to internal pressure, said side beingengageable with the shoe upper, a plurality of septums dividing saidreceptacle into compartments extending longitudinally of the shoe anddisposed at different levels as referred to the height of the last,eachseptum having an orifice therethrough, the orifices being ofprogressively smaller size in successive septums progressing from theupper toward the lower part of the last, said orifices being staggeredrelatively to each other, and means for delivering fluid under pressureto the compartment nearest to the top of the last.

19. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, pressure applyingmeans disposed at opposite sides-of the shoe upper at the shank andforepart portion thereof, each such pressure applying means comprisingan inflated bag, means supporting each bag for bodily movement towardand from the last, means for bodily moving each bag toward and from thelast, means for locking each bag in 0perative position relatively to thelast. and means actuable by the operator for inflating said bags.

20. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, an elongate wiper forwiping in a portion of the margin of the shoe upper at the side of theshoe, a heated support for the wiper on which the wiper rests whenretracted from the work, said support being at a lower level than thatof the exposed surface of the insole, means for advancing the wiper overthe insole while causing the wiper to apply progressively increasingpressure in a direction toward the bottom of the insole, and meanscausing the outer end of the wiper to descend and thereby rocking itswork-engaging end so as to maintain the point of maximum pressureadjacent to the edge of the insole.

21. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, an elongate wiper forwiping in a portion of the margin of the upper at the side of the shoe,said wiper having a curved work-engaging end, means for advancing thewiper over the insole, and resilient means operative to cause thework-engaging end of the wiper to exert a progressively increasingpressure upon said marginal material. and means for rocking thework-engaging end of the wiper as it advances.

22. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a rigid wiper memberhaving a work-engaging end engageable with a portion of the lower marginof the shoe upper at the side of the latter, a heated support on whichthe work-engaging end of the wiper rests when in inoperative position,said support being at a lower level than the exposed surface of theinsole, means for guiding the work-engaging end of the wiper up and ontothe insole as the wiper is advanced, means for advancing the wiper, andmeans for pressing the wiper forcibly against the marginal material asthe wiper advances.

23. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, and a series of heatedwipers arranged side by side and movable inwardly over the bottom of theshoe to wipe in the margin of the upper, means normally supporting thework-engaging ends of the wipers at a level lower than that of theinsole, resilient means constantly urging said advancing endsdownwardly, means for guiding the wipers each in a path such that theiradvancing ends all move inwardly across the edge of the insole atsubstantially the same distance from the latter, and means operative tocause the advancing ends of the several wipers to move nearer and nearerto the insole as they advance, whereby to exert progressively increasingforce upon the margin of the upper.

24. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a series of heatedwipers disposed at each side of the shoe respectively, means for guidingeach set of wipers so that as the wipers advance over the insole theiradvancing ends move freely across the edge of the insole but thereafter.approach the latter, means for heating the wipers, and means forsimultaneously advancing the wipers of a set over the insole to wipe inand press the margin of the upper into contact with the insole.

25. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a series of heatedwipers disposed at each side of the shoe, means for guiding each seriesof wipers so that as they advance over the insole their advancing endsmove freely across the edge of the insole, a movable carriage supportingeach series of wipers, means for moving the carriages toward the last,and independent means operative tomove the wipers of eitherse insinwardly over the insole.

26. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a series of wipers, amovable carriage supporting the wipers, a wiper guide over which thewipers move, the wiperengaging surface of the guide being longitudinallycurved in accordance with the longitudinal contour of the bottom of theshoe last at that side of the last at which such guide is disposed, andmeans for simultaneously moving said wipers to cause their end portionsto advance over the insole as they move transversely across the guide.

2'7. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a series of elongatewiper fingers, each having a rounded work-engaging surface and movablelongitudinally to cause its work-engaging surface to move over theinsole, a carrier for the wiper fingers, means for moving the carrierwhereby to cause the workengaging surfaces of the wiper fingersconcomitantly to advance transversely over the insole and to approachthe surface of the insole.

28. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a series of wipers,each movable in the direction of its length to cause its advancing endto project inwardly over the edge of the insole, a carrier for thewipers, means for moving the carrier whereby simultaneously to advanceall of the wipers, and inclined guide means for the carrier so arrangedthat the advancing ends of the wipers are caused to rock as they movetransversely over the insole surface.

29. Apparatus for lasting shoes comprising means for supporting a lasthaving a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon, a series of elongate,longitudinally movable wipers for wiping in the margin of the upper overthe insole, normally spaced supporting means for each wiper, one of saidsupporting means being stationary and adjacent to the last and the otherof said supporting means being movable toward and from the last, springmeans for applying operating force to said wipers, said spring meansbeing so arranged as to apply increasing force as the wiper advances,such force having a component tending to move the wiper transverselyover the insole and having a progressively increasing component whichtends to press the advancing ends of the wipers into contact with theinsole.

30. Apparatus of the class described comprising a last-supporting jack,pivotal means upon which the jack may swing in a front to reardirection, wipers for wiping in the lateral margins of a shoe uppermounted on the last, a saddle for supporting the forward end ofthe last,a hydraulic cylinder having a piston therein, the piston being connectedto the saddle, and means for supplying L30

